The six were able to leave the Philippines as their recruitment agencies changed their names and ages in their travel documents

The Philippine government has rescued six under-age Filipinos who were maltreated and abused in Saudi Arabia. Nasser Munder, the labor attache at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Saudi Arabia, said three of the Filipinos were in their care, two had been sent home to the Philippines and one was being deported, GMA News reported.

The Filipinos were aged between 15 and 17. They suffered abuse and maltreatment from their employers and were not paid their salaries. One of the victims, identified only as Lydia, 17, was not paid her salary for three and a half months.

Lydia said she went to Saudi Arabia as a domestic worker as her family needed financial support. The victims said their recruitment agencies changed their names and ages in their travel documents.

Munder said Filipinos who are below the age of 23 are not allowed to work overseas. He said the case will be investigated to determine how the six minors were able to leave the Philippines.